"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

"I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good."   -Jeremiah 32:40 [KJV] A minister lately preaching on the tremendous solemnity of the last day, at the close of his sermon, thus addressed his hearers: “Most awful as my subject has been; most solemn as the things which you have heard have been—yet I have one thing more to add, which is as awful. ‘Tis this.—Ere to-morrow’s sun, perhaps, you will have forgotten all you have heard of this solemn subject!” Awful conclusion! is not this too much our case, respecting the covenant love and faithfulness of our God? Else, why those unreasonable doubts, groundless suspicions, heart-rending jealousies, and soul-dejecting fears which possess us?  Else, whence that slowness of heart to approach the Lord, to cast our care upon Him, put our trust in Him, glory of Him, live upon Him, and rejoice in Him? The Lord will ever be mindful of His covenant (Psalm 111:5.) But, shame t...

"And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire, which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year, without spot, day by day, for a continual burnt-offering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even ." -Numbers 28:3, 4 [KJV] Pause, my soul, over the scriptural account of this solemn transaction! Think how infinitely important in the sight of Jehovah, was, and is, that vast sacrifice of the Lamb of God "slain from the foundation of the world , "   which every day, morning and evening, the Lord commanded to be set forth in an offering made by fire. With what exactness did the church observe this daily rite of oblation! How scrupulous were all true Israelites in this service! And how fully did it proclaim to them the doctrine that "without shedding of blood there was no remission!" Who that reads the solemn precept, and remarks the strictness of Israel in their obed...

"For we are His workmanship." -Ephesians 2:10 [KJV]   Consider what is here declared of those who are saved by grace through faith—that they are God's "workmanship" —the fruit and product of His creative hand. All, then, that we are and all that we have that is spiritual, and as such acceptable to God, we owe to the special operation of His power. There is not a thought of our heart, word of our lips, or work of our hands, which is truly holy and heavenly, simple and sincere, glorifying to God or profitable to man, of which He is not by His Spirit and grace the divine and immediate Author.   How beautifully is this expressed by the Church of old, and what an echo do her accents find in every gracious heart: "But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand"   (Isaiah 64:8) . How suitable, how expressive is the figure of the clay and the potter. Look at the moist clay under th...

"Will the Lord cast off for ever? will He be favourable no more?" - Psalm 77:7 [KJV] St. Paul speaks of some who had cast off their first faith. What was the consequence? having damnation (I Timothy 5:12.) If the power and liveliness of faith abate in the heart, a sense of condemnation will be in the conscience. Hence, enlightened, sensible sinners call in question the Lord’s love and grace towards them. They are prone to think, they have quite tired out His patience, and that nothing but wrath and misery await them. What shall we say to such?  The Saviour Himself speaks to them. Is it in wrath? Does He say, Because you have forsaken Me, I will cast you off for ever; die and be damned for your folly! I will show you no more favour? True, they have deserved this: they have reason to fear and expect this, was it not for the love of His heart and the grace of His word: therefore, they may joyfully sing, The love divine, which made us Thine, Shall keep us Thine for ...

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." -Revelation 3:20 [KJV] See, my soul, what condescension there is in Jesus! It was but on the last evening that thou were feasted by His own gracious invitation at His table; and now the Lord invites Himself at thine. So earnest is Jesus to keep up the closest acquaintance and holy familiarity with His redeemed, that if they are at any time backward in inviting Him, He will invite Himself. Jesus is prepared to come then this evening, before thou art prepared for Him; yea, not only before thou hast invited Him, but even before thy poor timid and unbelieving heart could have had the idea or expectation of such a guest. And hear what the gracious, kind, affectionate Lord saith. Behold! In which He not only desires to have it heard and known by thee, but all the church shall know His love in this particular, and be witn...

"Love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." -I John 4:7, 8 [KJV]   If ever you have loved Jesus with a pure affection; if ever you have felt him near, dear, and precious to your soul, that love can never be lost out of your heart. It may lie dormant; it does lie dormant. It may not be sweetly felt in exercise; but there it is. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha" (I Corinthians 16:22). You would be under this curse if the love of the Lord Jesus Christ were to die out of your heart. But this love is often sleeping.   When the mother sometimes watches over the cradle and looks upon her sleeping babe with unutterable affection, the infant knows not that the mother is watching its slumbers; but when it awakes, it is able to feel and return its mother's caresses. It is so with the soul sometimes when love in the heart is like a b...

For encouragement in Christ JESUS unto His people.  From preacher Clay Curtis, 38 minutes  Ref: Psalm 147:1-6 [KJV] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8oZYPa1GUA